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The World Prison Brief is an online database providing free access to information on prison systems around the world. It is a unique resource, which supports evidence-based development of prison policy and practice globally.

ICPR hosts and updates the World Prison Brief as part of its World Prison Research Programme. This programme, which involves collaboration with research partners, civil society organisations and policy makers, aims to inform and promote debate and policy reform.

In addition to providing access to the World Prison Brief database, this website holds other publications by ICPR and its original host, the International Centre for Prison Studies (which merged with ICPR in 2014). These include the World Prison Population Lists, the handbook on A Human Rights Approach to Prison Management, and bimonthly International Prison News Digest. See the International Prison Publications page.

The latest World Prison Population List, published in November 2018, reports that there are likely to be well over 11 million prisoners worldwide.

ICPR’s report Prison: Evidence of its use and over-use from around the world looks at patterns of imprisonment in ten contrasting jurisdictions across all five continents of the world. The report presents a brief history of imprisonment in each of the ten countries, and consider what lessons might be learnt for reducing use of custody worldwide. The report is available here

ICPR’s bookImprisonment Worldwide: The Current Situation and an Alternative Future is available from Policy Press (£7.99 when ordered directly from the publishers). It can also be purchased from Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions.